Councillor Chris Windows, accused of homophobia, does not represent the views of Bristol and should not be made Lord Mayor of Bristol.

Background information

Councillor Chris Windows is set to become the next Lord Mayor of Bristol, subject to a vote at full Council on 10th June 2014.

We feel that Councillor Windows does not represent the views of Bristol and should not be made Lord Mayor of Bristol. The Lord Mayor should work towards challenging all hate crime and champion and celebrate all communities in Bristol both at home and in their national and international duties.

Chris Windows has expressed views which led to allegations of homophobia and withdrawal from The Tory party by stating he was ''unhappy and a little disturbed” at the involvement of LGB equality charity Stonewall in local schools and "particularly the use of a certain leading actor as a potential role model for our impressionable young people."

The previous two Lord Mayors have gone out of their way to celebrate, support and promote equality. One being openly gay and one being a practising Muslim have led the Bristol Pride march in the city and spoken openly of their support. We feel that Chris Windows is not qualified to continue this work and has shown no effort to reach out to the LGBT community in the wake of allegations of homophobia not seeing it as important and did not reply to a formal letter from the organisers of Bristol Pride raising concerns over his comments.

He also stated that whilst he has "nothing against people of a different sexual orientation than himself" he doesn't "think we should make a great big fuss of it. I don't jump off wardrobes and expect to be represented, I think we should leave well alone, in the bedroom where it is supposed to be" which calls into question his support to Bristol Pride and other events run by, and that represent minority groups.